How to Stain Shadowbox Wood Fencing

Also known as board-on-board fencing, shadowbox-style wood fences are composed of alternating boards that provide an attractive three-dimensional appearance. Because these fences have inundated areas, they are difficult to stain. The proper tools make staining shadowbox fencing fairly simple. The wrong tools can turn the project into a messy, time-consuming nightmare. Choose wisely when purchasing application tools from your local home improvement store, or you may find yourself in over your head.

Things You'll Need

Lawn mower

Edger

Pressure washer

Oil-based stain

5-gallon bucket

Wooden stir stick

Mini-roller

3-inch china paintbrush

Mineral spirits

Mow the grass surrounding the fencing. Trim the grass immediately adjacent to the fencing, using an edger.

Wash the shadowbox wood fencing, using a pressure washer. Let the fencing dry for 24 hours.

Open two 1-gallon cans of stain, and stir each for two minutes. Pour each can into a 5-gallon bucket.

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Coat the inner, inundated portions of the shadowbox wood fencing, using a mini-roller. Turn the mini-roller sideways and roll in a horizontal motion, moving down the length of the fencing. Continue until all of the inner, inundated portions of the fence are stained.

Stain the outer, vertical running boards of the shadowbox wood fencing, using the mini-roller. Move the roller vertically over these boards. Use a china brush to stain the three horizontal boards running the length of the fence.

Clean each tool immediately after application, using mineral spirits.

Tips & Warnings

Professionals sometimes refer to mini-rollers as "weenie rollers." If you cannot locate a mini-roller at your local paint or home improvement store, try using the latter name when speaking with customer service representatives.